USS Rockford (PF-48)

USS "Rockford" (PF-48), a "Tacoma"-class frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Rockford, Illinois.

"Rockford", projected as PG-156, was laid down 28 August 1943 as PF-48 by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Los Angeles, California; launched 27 September 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Harry L. Crotzer; and commissioned 6 March 1944, Commander D. H. Bartlett, USCG, in command.

Following shakedown off Los Angeles, she reported to the Pacific Fleet and got underway 25 June 1944 for the southwest Pacific. On 2 July she attacked an enemy submarine with depth charges, doing some damage. She made a second antisubmarine attack with "hedgehogs" on 7 July and proceeded via Espiritu Santo to Australia arriving Cairns 23 July.

On 2 August "Rockford" moored in Milne Bay and operated on convoy escort duty and antisubmarine patrol off the New Guinea coast until 23 September when she made a brief run to Manus Island, Admiralties.

She then returned to New Guinea until 15 October when she steamed via Manus Island and Pearl Harbor. En route she combined with USS|Ardent|AM-340 to help sink Japanese submarine "I-12" 13 November. She arrived San Francisco 17 November for scheduled repairs.

"Rockford" then reported to Commander, Alaskan Sea Frontier for duty, 4 January 1945, and operated until August at Dutch Harbor, Cold Bay, and Adak as pilot vessel for the AM-222 group.

"Rockford" was leased to the Soviet Union as EK-20 on 27 August 1945, and returned to the United States at Yokosuka, Japan, 1 November 1949. She was then loaned to South Korea 23 October 1950 to enforce the blockade against North Korea and harass the enemy. She served the Korean Navy as "Apnokkang" (62) until returned to the U.S. Navy 3 September 1952 and assigned a status of inactive out of commission in reserve. "Rockford" was struck from the Navy list 26 May 1953 and sunk as a torpedo target 30 September 1953.

"Rockford" earned two battle stars for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r8/rockford.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Rockford"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08048.htm navsource.org: USS "Rockford"]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/patrol/pf48.htm hazegray.org: USS "Rockford"]